Thursday, Dec. 6, 1962
University Daily Kansan
Page 5
NimitzSaysDecember7 CouldHaveBeenWorse
BERKELEY, CALIF., (UPI) — Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz said today the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 21 years ago tomorrow was a terrible blow to this country, "but it could have been devastatingly worse."
The war in the Pacific would have lasted much longer, Nimitz said if:
- The fleet had been at sea instead of tied up at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
- The Japanese had destroyed our huge, above-ground fuel tanks in Hawaii.
- The Japanese had followed up their initial successes with raids during the next several days.
Nimitz, erect and snowy-thatch-ed at 77, discussed in an interview with United Press International the workings of fate that began at 7:55 that Sunday morning when carrier-based Japanese bombers roared over Pearl Harbor.
IN THE NEXT TWO HOURS,
18 warships were sunk and 2,403
men were killed. Eighteen days
later, on Christmas day, Admiral
Nimitz arrived to take command of
the shattered fleet and rebuild it
into the mightiest naval force ever
assembled by one nation.
"The good Lord was in some way looking out for us," Nimitz said as he sat in the memento-filled study of his home high in the Berkeley hills overlooking San Francisco bay.
If Adm. Husband E. Kimmel had had ample warning of the approach of the Japanese task force he surely would have sent his fleet to intercept it. Nimitz said.
"Japan had six carriers, while Kimmel had only one that had gone to Wake Island. Our ships would have been picked off one
by one, sunk in deep water rather than the shoals at Pearl Harbor.
"We would have lost practically all the personnel of the Pacific fleet. We would have had to start from scratch."
The Navy's fuel storage tanks contained 4.5 million barrels of oil, the admiral said. The Japanese fighter pilots, firing 50 caliber incendiary bullets, might have wiped out this supply.
"It would have been very difficult to replenish our fuel because in 1942 most of our oil was ear-marked for the Atlantic and Europe. Tankers were scarce."
Of 394 American warplanes on Oahu Dec. 7, 1941, only 38 got into the air against the Japanese raiders. The rest were destroyed on the ground.
People-to-People is looking for volunteers who will board foreign students in their homes during Christmas vacation.
P-T-P Requests Help For Vacation Housing
Those who are interested in having foreign students visit their homes for the vacation or for Christmas day only should contact the P-t-P Kansas Union office.
Students are urged to indicate their preferences as to nationality of students they would like to invite.
TRADING POST
704 $ _{1/2} $ Mass. Ph.VI 3-2394
Located 1 door South of K.P. & L.
in basement.
R.C.A. Hi-Fi Stereo, 20 day
warranty ... $42.50
Room Divider ... $ 7.00
Premier Gas Range, 30"
like new, 1 year warranty
on all parts ... $89.95
15" Portable T.V., 30 day warranty ... $69.95
Bookcase, 3 shelf ... $ 8.95
Magnavox portable stereo.
Magnavox portable stereo,
perfect, 60 day warranty ... $59.95
3/4 Hollywood bed ... $24.95
Bed, complete with wooden
headboard ... $22.95
G.E. electric dryer, perfect,
less than one year old.
Will carry a one year war-
ranty on all parts $119.95
We invite you to come in and look around. Remember a few steps down gives you a big step up in savings.
CAROLYN CRAVEN
The Coach House congratulates her she's president of Lewis Hall. The dress she is wearing is one that is "devastating for dates."
1237 Oread
VI 3-6369
Porronize Your Kansan Advertisers
"The Wild
and the
Starring
Innocent"
AUDIE MURPHY and SANDRA DEE
available at ALLEN'S Drive-In with $1.00 purchase.
See this outstanding show FREE Saturday, December 8, at the VARSITY THEATER at 11:00 p.m. only.
The Drive-In which is interested in YOU, the Students of KU
1404 W 23rd
Open Every Evening
Safeway
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T. G. & Y.
ACME Laundry Cleaners
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Speed-Wash
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